Review of Mark II sporty
The mark II has gone through nine generations spanning 39 years from 1968 through 2007 with the last Mark II branded the Toyota Mark II Blit. The X has remained true to the Mark II’s popular pedigree, including all that makes the Mark II great, with the X making even better, as a matter of fact, way better.
Interior
The Mark II’s interior has always been above average from Toyota of the time so getting into the driver’s seat, one is greeted by the plush interior, with a lot of attention to detail. The refinement and the quality of materials is good.
Switching on the ignition, the Mark IIs and Xs start with the smoothest sound. Engines being straight sixes are very polished. Engine noise is isolated well. If you care enough to read the technical stuff, straight six engines also known as Inline six was popular with Mark IIs.
The Mark X moved to the V6 sighting that straight-sixes were too expensive to manufacture and too long for the engine compartments in their newer vehicles. Additionally, being inherently long engines, they are apparently tough to package, especially with modern safety and crash standards.
The car accelerates smoothly though not aggressively and the steering wheel feels super light.
Exterior
The Mark II received a total redesign with every generation, but the newer look does not stray too far from that of previous models. I particularly like the look of the X90 and the Mark X. Those for me stand out with their more sculptured appearance. The X100 and X110 were a bit of an experiment, I believe. Nonetheless all models look safe with the Mark X specifically departing from this tradition with a very sporty look.
Driving impression
Toyota knows how to build quiet cars with a comfortable ride. Toyota’s Lexus division has excelled in this area and this expertise appears to have worked its way over to the Mark II and finally the Mark X.
Mark IIs are easy cars to drive. Enthusiast drivers praise their above average pulling power for their size. More than 90 per cent of all Mark IIs in Uganda have a two-litre engine under the bonnet and automatic transmission. The suspension is set up primarily for comfort. True to tradition, all generations have been rear wheel drive.
Reliable
In the past, older cars with smaller engines had a screeching reputation when it came to reliability. But, dependability remains one of the characteristics associated with the Mark II. Without surprise, the subsequent Mark X did continue to build on this reputation, and predictably.
In terms of maintenance, there’s an abundant availability of parts largely in the used spare parts market.
Naturally, with generation progression, the cost of these parts increases, unfortunately, exponentially particularly the none-service parts. A headlamp, for instance, across generations can have a Shs600,000 price difference.
Safety
All Mark IIs and Mark Xs come with the standard safety features of their respective generations, including but not limited to front airbags and anti-lock braking system. The Mark X steps it up a level with side airbags, and stability control.
You want a Mark II today, get the Mark X. A few years ago, the Mark X was in the realm of planet un-obtainum due specifically to the taxes it attracted and the high cost at the time. Today, the price is much lower. The Mark X and its predecessor Mark II have indeed enjoyed quite some reputation as a good car, or an affordable alternative to the used BMW and Mercedes temptations, and for good reason too.
THE BAD STUFF
By buying used I mean 3rd hand, having done some rounds in Uganda. Normally trouble free, but have a look over any Mark II carefully in case it has been owned by a careless person.
The engine should start virtually instantly and idle smoothly from the moment it kicks over. Automatic transmission changes should be all but impossible to hear or feel at low to moderate throttle openings. Check the condition of the body panels for signs of previous crash repairs. For instance, paint that doesn’t quite match from one panel to another, slight ripples in the surfaces, tiny drops of paint overspray on non-painted surfaces such as the windows and trim items. You want a Mark II today, get the Mark X. The used car market is an interesting one.
